Speaking from the Heart

The other girl  is so much younger .
He prefers to be with her than with me, eventhough I have known him longer.
If he had his way, he would spend both Saturdays and Sundays with her.
I knew this day would come, when I am no longer #1 in his life.
I miss my little man.
LOL, how can I compete with my son's girlfriend.

It's once again Friday Show and Tell with Canadagirl.

Sing to the tune of “I Will Survive-Made famous
by Gloria Gaynor

First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
Cause I´m not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so nowI teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we´re nuts,
but they don´t even bother me

Come on, let´s go walk out the door.
We´re on the road now,
'cause we´re not home much anymore
My friends would laugh
and say we´d be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I´d give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we´ll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.

It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They´re not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you´d better call ahead first´
cause we´re probably busy!

For more Friday Show n tell, click on the above clipart

Thank you for joining the final reading of

A Mother's Journey

Copyright 1997 by Linda Dillow

She heard her children callling, "You will always walk with us, Mother!"
They stood and watched as the gates closed after her: and she heard her children saying,

A faithful mother is more than a memory;
a faithful mother lives with us forever.

And her children grasped the hands of their own children and looked at the path before them.

"Is the way long?" they asked.

and their Shepherd answered,

"Yes, and the way is hard,

and you will be old before you reach the end of it...

But the end will be better than the beginning. "

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

-Author unknown

For more Friday Show n tell, click on the above clipart

Thank you for joining in the reading of A Mother's Journey

Copyright 1997 by Linda Dillow

A Mountain snow weighted the limbs of the stately pine trees,

Like them, the young adults stood tall.


In the night of winter, threatening clouds of prejudice, oppression, and disease darkened the earth. The world has turned inside out.

Sometimes the young adults groped and stumbled,


"Look up," their mother said. "Lift your eyes to the Light of Life. "

Above the clouds they saw the One who brings light out of darkness.

He grasped their hands and gave them peace.

As the snow slipped off the pine boughs,

the mother said, "Winter is the best season of all, for...

I have shown my children God

And her Shepherd said,

You were faithful to give your children to me.

Give Me your hopes,

Give Me your dreams;

The journey is long

and not what it seems.

Affirm your children;

to be faithful to Me;

This is the Mother

I want you to be.

For more Friday Show n tell, click on the above clipart

Thank you for joining in the reading of A Mother's Journey

Copyright 1997 by Linda Dillow

The children grew like sunflowers dancing along the hillside.
The days were long, but the air was thick.

A summer storm rolled across the heavens
Lightning flashed, hail pounded, and the
Children shook with cold and fear.

The path was steep and the children grew weary.
But the mother encircled them with warmth of her love.
"Walk on, dear ones," she said, "We will soon be there."

So the children climbed.

When they finally ascend the above the storm, they said,
"We could not have made it without you, Mother."

And she rejoiced. This is better than the joy of springtime, for

I have taught my children perserverance

And her Shepherd said,

You were faithful in the hard times.

Give Me your hopes,

give Me your dreams;

The journey is long

and not what it seems.

Affirm your children;

to be faithful to Me;

This is the Mother

I want you to be.

My sister gave me "A Mother's Journey", when I was into my fourth year of motherhood. I have reread the book many times through the years. Each time I read it, I could clearly see where I am in my journey and where I am heading. Please join me for the second week , as we continue our reading.

Copyright 1997 by Linda Dillow

It was spring, The trees burst with blossoms. Cheerful wildflowers covered the fields, and bubbbling brook echoed peals of laughter as it meandred through the meadow.

Like little lambs the children frolicked, following the mother through sweet-smelling clover along the path.

The days were good. The evenings peaceful.

The yong mother was happy as she played with her children. Together they made daisy chains form the gathered wildflowers, and bathed in clear streams.

The sun shone on their paths, and life was sweet. The young mother cried.
"Nothing will be be lovelier than this!

I have given my children joy !

And her Shepherd said,

You were faithful in the good times.

Give Me your hopes,

give Me your dreams;

The journey is long

and not what it seems.

Affirm your children;

to be faithful to Me;

This is the Mother

I want you to be.

For more Friday Show and Tell with Canada Girl, click on the clipart.

There is no person deeply cherished or more greatly needed than a mother. Her influence is far-reaching and everlasting. For when a mother is faithful, her children experience joy. They learn perserverance. They become wise. Best of all, they find themselves heading down the paths in life that lead directly to God.

You, too, are a part of this pilgrimage. And you'll be filled with hope as you discover the rewarding life that awaits along the path of

Copyright 1997 by Linda Dillow

For the next several weeks, please join me in the reading of A Mother's Journal

The young mother grasped
the hands of her children and looked
at the path before her.

"Is the way long?" she asked.

And her Shepherd answered,
"Yes, and the way is hard,
and you will be old before you reach
the end of it.
But the end will be better than the beginning."

"What is required?" asked the mother.

and her Shepherd replied,

Faithfulness
Give Me your hopes,

give Me your dreams;

The journey is long

and not what it seems.

Affirm your children;

to be faithful to Me;

This is the Mother

I want you to be.

Click on Friday Show and Tell Clipart to visit Mary and other Bloggers.

P.S. Check out My Recipe Box Blog.

Assignment: Write out some goals that you would like to accomplish. These goals should include your personal goals, but also goals as a family.

While setting goals, try to write out small attainable rewards for each goal accomplished!

1 Corinthians 13: Christmas Version

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen,
carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties
and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return;
but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust,
but giving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown

• Ouch, This poem hits home. As a homeschool teacher, mom, and wife, I tend to forget to have some quality time with my kids . I'm a one-track mind. I tend to focus on completing "to do" list, and spending time with my kids as second priority. I would convince myself that there will be some quality time later. The problem is there is never a "later". Something always come up or I'm too tired. My goal for 2008 is to spend more quality time, rather than quantity time with my kids. Time is quickly flying by.

This goal will have an immediate reward, as well as in the long run. I want my children to know that I love them through my actions, and not just words.

• Less time on blogging, and more time with God. The reward for this goal is unmeasurable, because I will have peace.
• Be a better aunt to my niece, rather than being critical. Restoring love and respect will be a big reward for me.

1998-2001

"You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky"

Anne Campbell, 1888

November 2007

Author: Unknown

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough".
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom".
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?".
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?".
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.
"W hen you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?".
She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.
"When we said, 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them".
Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye .

She then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....
To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

"I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me..
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.